New Relief Bill Does Not Require Employer’s To Provide Paid Leave Due To COVID-19

Beginning January 1 employers will not be required to pay their employees with COVID-19 two weeks paid leave.
According to reports Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell opposed the deal and Congress decided not to extend the paid leave in the new 900 billion relief package, however any existing state or local policy regarding providing paid leave remains unchanged.
It was also said that Democrats wanted to include the paid leave in the new 900 billion relief package but Republicans felt renewing the mandate would make it permanent.
In March, Congress passed the CARES Act, which required employers to provide employees up to two weeks of paid sick leave if they contract COVID and two weeks of paid leave to care for a sick relative. It also allowed employers to use up to 10 weeks of paid family leave if a child’s school or daycare was closed due to the coronavirus.
Although the bill ends at the end of January businesses will still be allowed to subsidize costs with a refundable tax credit if they provide paid leave until March 31, 2021.